Juicer mechanism



July14, 1942. AQS. KNAPP 2,289,656 7 JUICER MEC'HANIVSM Filed Sept. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet i INVEN TOR.

0244 6606: 02/ 0 BY m ZAW ATTORNEYS July 14, 1942. A. s. KNAPP 2,289,656

JUICER MECHANISM Filed Sept. 25, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Patented July 14, 1942 JUICER- MECHANISM Andrew S. Knapp, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to .Knapp-Monarch Company, St. Louis, Mo., a

corporation of Missouri Application September 23, 1940, Serial No. 357,980

Claims.

My present invention relates to-a juicer mechanism for fruit, vegetables and the like wherein the material is grated and juice is then extracted from the pulp by centrifugal action.

One object of the invention isto provide a juicer mechanism of simple, durable and inexpensive construction and consisting ofa moun ing base with a motor therein for driving a grater plate and perforate basket, a bowl being provided surrounding the basket to receive juice therefrom and a cover being provided for the bowl.

A further object is to provide a mounting for the motor and juicer mechanism which minimizes transmission of vibration to the mounting base for the juicer mechanism and provision being made for effectively cooling the motor which necessarily operates at relatively high speed.

Another object is to provide a juicer mechanism that can be readily disassembled for cleaning purposes and easily cleaned and reassembled.

Still another object is to provide a juicer mechanism into which the material may be readily fed through a feed tube by the use of a feeding element for forcing the material against the grater teeth of a grater plate within the juicer mechanism.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to fully describe and illustrate more than one in order to give a full understanding of the invention both from its structural and functional standpoints. Accordingly, I have illustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings; in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through a juicer mechanism embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan elevation of the juicer mechanism on a reduced scale.

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1.

0n the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character B to indicate generally a mounting base. The base B is provided with preferably four sockets ID in which supporting feet l2 of rubber or similar resilient material are received, the feet 12 retaining bottom cover plate l3 in position.

The mounting base B is open at its top and a cover is provided for the top in the form of a disk I4. A motor M is secured as by three screws [5 to the'supporting disk M. The motor M has three threaded bosses l6 receiving the screws I5. Adjacent each boss [6 a rubber bushing ll is provided as a means of connection for the motor M and the disk l4 with the upper end of the base B. The bushing l'l minimizes the transmission of vibration from the motor M and the disk I4 to the base B.

The armature of the motor M is indicated at 18 and the shaft thereof at IS. The shaft if! has secured thereto a connector member 20 of disklike formation having a depending sleeve 2!. The sleeve 2| is journalled in a boss 22 of the frame of the motor M by ball bearings 23. The sleeve 2| is secured to the shaft 19 by a set screw 24 entering a slot or keyway 25 of the motor shaft IS.

The periphery of the disk-like connector element 2|] is threaded to coact with an internally threaded boss 26 of a grater disk 21. The disk 21 has a shoulder at 28 to contact with the upper end of the disk 20 to thereby provide an accurate .true running fit for the grater plate 21, on the motor shaft l9. 7

At the periphery of the grater plate 21 a perforated basket 29 is provided which terminates at its upper edge in an inturned marginal flange 30.

Surrounding the grater plate 21 and the basket 29 is a bowl 3| which is supported on the disk [4. The bowl 3| rests on the heads of the three screws 15 and the bowl has a detent 32 cooperating with a similar detent 33 in the disk l4 to prevent rotation of the bowl relative to the disk. The bowl is held in supported position on the screws 15 by a bail 34 which will later be de-. scribed.

A cover 35 is provided for the bowl 3|. The cover has a detent 36 cooperating with a similar detent 310i the bowl to prevent relative rotation of the cover and. bowl. A reinforcing member 38 is provided on the top of the cover 35 and is secured thereto as by screws 39. The reinforcing member 38 has a cam surface 40 and a groove 4| for cooperating with the bail 34. The bale til straddles the cover 35 and the bowl 3| and has pintles 42 on its lower end pivoted to the base B. Accordingly the bail maybe swung toward the left in Figure 1 to a position out of registry with the cover and bowl to permit their removal. When the bail is swung back to the position shown in Figure 1 it will engage the cam surface 40 and ride up it until it snaps, due to its inherent resiliency, into the groove 4| to thereafter mounted in the member 39 and depends therefrom to a position that just clears the grater teeth, as illustrated in Figure 1. Material such as fruit or vegetables may be introduced into the tube and such material may be fed downwardly by a feeding element 45 made of wood or the like. The element 46 has a shoulder 41 to limit its downward movement so that it does not strike the grater teeth, and has a knob at its upper end for convenience in operating it.

In Figure 4 I illustrate a lock pin 49 slidable in a boss 50 of the frame of the motor M. A

' spring 5| normally retracts the stop pin 49 and the outer end of the pin projects through an opening 52 in the mounting base B. When it is desirable to unscrew the grater plate 21 from the disk 20 the pin 49 may be pressed inwardly to engage in an opening 53 of the sleeve 2| thereby preventing rotation of the motor shaft.

Practical operation In the operation of my device when it is assembled, as illustrated in Figure 1, the motor M may be energized and small pieces of carrots or other vegetables or fruit introduced through the feed tube 45. The rapidly rotating teeth 44 of the grater plate 21 will grate the material so as to break down the fibers thereof and release the juice from the fiber. The material being juiced may be forciblyfed against the grater teeth by pressing downwardly on the feeding element 46.

The grated material will be propelled by centrifugal force against the perforated basket 29 whereby the juice will flow through the perforations thereof and the fibers -will be held against passage to the bowl 3|. The juicewill discharge by gravity through a spout 54 from the bowl into a suitable receptacle such as a drinking glass or the like. The fibers of the vegetables or fruit will accumulate against the inner surface of the basket 29 and will be retained against entry into the bowl 3| by the inturned marginal flange 30 of the basket. After a considerable quantity of material has been juiced the bail 34 may be manipulated for permitting the removal of the cover 35 so that the fibers within the basket 29 may be cleaned out. If desirable the basket may be removed by removing the grater plate 21 by an unscrewing action from the disk 20 as already described. The grater'plate and the basket 29 may then be readily washed by holding them under a faucet of running water. The parts, it will be obvious, may be readily and quickly assembled for further juicing operations in a minimum of time. The entire structure is comparatively simple in both construction and operation, and by rotating the basket 29 at a high speed such as 15,000 E. P. M., considerable centrifugal force is generated for extracting a maximum of juice from the grated fibers of vegetable or fruit. The resulting fibers are comparatively dry.

During operation of the juicer, cooling air is drawn through perforations l3 in the bottom plate ill by a propeller fan l9 mounted on the lower end of the motor shaft l9. Such air flows upwardly over the motor M and finally discharges from under the periphery of the supporting disk 14 as indicated by the arrows a.

Having described one specific embodiment of my invention together with the operation thereof, I desire it to be understood that this form is selected merely for the purpose of facilitating disclosure of the invention rather than for the purpose of limiting the number of forms which it may assume. It is to be further understood that various modifications and alterations may be applied to the specific form disclosed to meet the requirements of practice without in any manner departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention except as set forth in the claims appended hereto.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. A juicer mechanism of the class described, comprising a mounting base, a supporting disk resiliently mounted thereon and constituting a cover for said mounting base, a motor supported in depending position from said supporting disk, a grater plate on the shaft of said motor and located above said supporting disk, a perforated and engaging with said cover to retain it and said bowl in position on said supporting disk, said bowl having a juice spout extending therefrom.

2. A juicer mechanism, comprising a mounting base, means for supporting said base spaced from a table top or the like, a supporting disk mounted thereon and constituting a cover for said mounting base, said disk being spaced above said base to permit air exit therefrom, a motor supported in depending position from said supporting disk, a fan driven by said motor to circulate air under the lower edge of said base and through the space between said base and said disk, a grater plate on the shaft of said motor above said supporting disk, a perforated upstanding wall around the periphery of said grater plate, a bowl surrounding said grater plate and wall, a cover for said bowl, a feed tube depending from said cover to a position adjacent said grater plate, and a feeding element slidable in said feed tube.

3. A juicer mechanism of the class described, comprising a mounting base, a support resiliently mounted at the top thereof, a motor pendantly supported on said support, a grater plate on the shaft of said motor and located above said support, a perforated upstanding wall at the periphery 'of said grater plate, a bowl surrounding said grater plate and wall, a cover for said bowl, and a feed tube depending from said cover to a position adjacent said grater plate, said bowl having a juice spout extending therefrom and said bowl and cover being supported by said resiliently mounted support whereby they may vibrate independent of said mounting base.

4. In a juicer mechanism of the class described, a hollow mounting base, a supporting disk mounted thereon and constituting a cover for said mounting base,-said disk being spaced above said base, a motor located within said hollow base, a grater plate on the shaft of said motor and located above said supporting disk, a perforated basket around said grater plate, a bowl surrounding said grater plate and basket and mounted on said supporting disk, a cover for said bowl, a feed tube depending to a position adjacent said grater plate, a feeding element slidable in said feed tube, said bowl having a juice spout extending therefrom, and said motor having a fan for drawing air into the bottom of said base and discharging it through the space between said base and disk.

5. A juicer mechanism including a mounting I base, a support thereon, a motor depending from said support, a connector element on the shaft of said motor and including a horizontal disk having its periphery threaded, a grater plate threaded on said disk and having an annular stop shoulder to contact the upper face of said disk adjacent its periphery, a perforate basket around the periphery of said grater plate, and a bowl surrounding said grater plate and basket.

6. A juicerjmechanism of the character described including a hollow mounting base, a supporting disk providing a cover therefor, a motor depending from said supporting disk within said mounting base, a connector element on the shaft of said motor and including a horizontal disk having its periphery threaded, a grater plate threaded on said last mentioned disk and having a face engaging a face of the disk adjacent the periphery thereof to act as a stop for the threads and thereby as means to insure right angle mounting of said grater plate relative to the axis of rotation of said motor shaft, a perforate basket around the periphery of said grater plate, a bowl surrounding said grater plate and basket, a cover for said bowl and a feed tube depending from said cover and terminating adjacent the upper face of said grater plate, said feed tube being located off center relative to the axis of rotation of said motor and said grater plate.

'7. A juicer mechanism including a motor, a connector element and a grater plate mounted on the shaft of said motor, a screw threaded conection between said grater plate and said connector element, said connector element having an opening, and means to lock said shaft against rotation when screwing or unscrewing said grater plate relative thereto comprising a slidable pin, means for normally retracting said pin, said pin being extendable against the bias of said last means to engage in said opening and thereby prevent rotation of the connector element and shaft while screwing and unscrewing the greater plate relative thereto.

8. A juicer mechanism comprising a hollow supporting housing, a motor support at the top of said housing, a disk on said motor support and forming a cover for said housing, said disk being spaced above the housing, a motor in said housing, a fan on the shaft of said motorfor circulating air through said housing and between the top of said housing and the bottom of said disk, a grater plate on the shaft of said motor above said disk, a perforate basket at the periphery of said grater plate, a bowl surrounding said grater plate and basket, a cover for said bowl and a feed tube extending into said basket and terminating adjacent said grater plate.

9. A juicer mechanism comprising a hollow supporting housing, a supporting disk across the top and spaced thereabove, a motor mounted on said disk and located within said housing, a fan on. the shaft of said motor for, circulating air through said housing and through the space between the housing and disk, a grater plate on the shaft of said motor, a perforate wall" at the periphery of said grater plate, a bowl surrounding said grater plate and basket, and a feed tube extending into said basket.

10. A juicer mechanism of the class described I comprising a mounting base, a motor supported in said base, a grater plate on the shaft of said motor, a perforate basket around the periphery of said grater plate, a bowl surrounding said grater plate and basket and mounted on said base, a cover for said bowl, a feed tube depending from said cover to a position adjacent said grater plate, a bail pivotally mounted on said base and capable of positioning over said cover, said cover having a cam-like portion terminating in a notch to receive said bail and thereby retain said cover and said bowl in position on said base, said bowl having a juice spout extending therefrom.

ANDREW S. KNAPP. 

